Chronic Strongyloides stercoralis infection in former British Far East prisoners of war

Gill, Geoff, Welch, E., Bailey, J. W., Bell, D. R. and Beeching, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7019-8791 (2004) 'Chronic Strongyloides stercoralis infection in former British Far East prisoners of war'. Qjm-an International Journal of Medicine, Vol 97, Issue 12, pp. 789-795.

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Abstract

Background: Chronic infections with the nematode worm Strongyloides stercoralis can occur in former WWII Far East prisoners of war (FEPOWs). The condition may be asymptomatic, but frequently causes a characteristic urticarial 'larva currens' rash. Under conditions of immunosuppression (particularly systemic corticosteroid treatment) potentially fatal dissemination of larvae ('hyperinfection') may occur.
Aim: To review our total experience of strongyloidiasis in former FEPOWs, and investigate its prevalence, characteristics and risk factors.
Design: Retrospective case series.
Methods: We reviewed 2072 records of all FEPOWs seen at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, 1968-2002. Cases with strongyloidiasis were compared with non-infected controls.
Results: There were 248 (12%) with strongyloidiasis. Diagnostic features included larva currens rash (70%), eosinophilia (66%), positive faecal culture (30%), positive faecal microscopy (26%), and positive serology (64%). Mean (+/-SD) age of cases was 65 7 years, and as expected, their blood eosinophil counts were significantly higher than controls (775 vs. 238 x 10(6)/1, p < 0.001). Captivity on the Thai-Burma Railway (vs. elsewhere) was significantly associated with strongyloidiasis (78% cases vs. 40% controls, OR 4.19, Cl 2.70-6.81, p<0.001). In terms of prevalence, strongyloidiasis occurred in 166/1032 men imprisoned on the Burma Railway (16.1%). Malaria (88% vs. 69%, p<0.001) and tropical ulcer (53% vs. 42%, p<0.02) were more common amongst cases than controls, probably because these diseases were very common on the Burma Railway.
Discussion: S. stercoralis infection is common amongst ex-FEPOWs, particularly those from the Thai-Burma Railway project. It is usually characterized by a 'larva currens' rash and marked eosinophilia. The condition is eminently treatable, and continued diagnostic surveillance is needed, if cases of potentially fatal hyperinfection are to be avoided.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ex-prisoners diagnosis ivermectin veterans japanese albendazole thiabendazole eosinophilia vietnam virus fepow Far East Prisoners of War
Subjects:	QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 203 Nematoda WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 360 Veterans health WB Practice of Medicine > Medical Climatology > WB 700 Medical climatology. Geography of disease WB Practice of Medicine > Medical Climatology > WB 710 Diseases of geographic areas WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 865 Strongyloidiasis
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Clinical Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hch133
Depositing User:	Sarah Lewis-Newton
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2012 15:14
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2019 06:26
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2219

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